Great Chicken Dishes for Summer

At VG Meats, we’re known for our outstanding beef. It’s tender, juicy and flavourful, and we offer a wide range of beef products – flank steak, strip loin, burgers, rib roasts and more. We even sell beef bacon and beef jerky! It’s no wonder these products are popular – but loyal VG customers know that we have another secret weapon: our chicken.

VG Meats Chicken Breasts come bone-in or boneless, and are incredibly versatile in the kitchen. We also sell chicken legs, chicken sausage, frying chicken and our very popular Flattened Chicken – a customer favourite. Poultry is excellent when it’s cooked well, and can be used in a variety of ways. Here are some of our favourite ways to make chicken the star of your dinner in the summer months. Stop by our Stoney Creek retail store and give one of these a try tonight!

Classic Roasted Chicken

You can roast any cut of chicken, but bone-in options are particularly flavourful in the oven. Simply clean and dry your chicken, rub it with olive oil and season with salt, pepper and rosemary. If you have fresh lemons on hand, squeeze some juice on the meat and toss the rind in the roasting pan for added aromatic flair. Roast until cooked through, and serve with your favourite summer vegetables on the side (farm-fresh green beans or asparagus are a perfect choice). TIP: Use the leftover roasted bones to make amazing chicken stock!

Garlic Sauteed Chicken over Angel Hair Pasta

Heat up your best pan, drizzle your chicken with olive oil and sear over high heat. Flip the chicken, sear the other side and then cook it through on medium-low heat, adding fresh button mushrooms, diced onions, coarsely chopped asparagus, a generous dose of garlic and a splash of white wine to the pan (if you don’t have any wine, another dash of olive oil will do). Dust lightly with salt and pepper. While your chicken is cooking, prepare your angel hair or other pasta of choice. Drain and plate in a nest shape (do this by using tongs to turn your pasta as you lower it to the plate). Take your chicken off the heat and add a splash of cream to the pan. Top your pasta with a piece of chicken and pour some sauce and veg on top. TIP: Add a dose of grated parmesan or asiago cheese before serving for an extra-indulgent feast.

Create A Signature Chicken Salad

Summer is prime bbq season – something we discussed in a recent post – but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to the basics, like chicken-on-a-bun. There are a million different ways to make an amazing chicken salad by switching up your seasoning, salad toppings and greens. Just marinate boneless chicken breasts in the sauce of your choice (or olive oil and your favourite herbs and spices), then cook it through on the grill. Rest and slice your meat, and throw it onto your salad for a complete meal. We love these great combinations:

• Balsamic-marinated chicken on baby spinach with chopped apples, dried cranberries, walnuts and goat cheese
• Honey mustard chicken on spring mix with cucumbers, sweet cherry tomatoes, radishes and garlic croutons
• BBQ chicken on crunchy romaine lettuce with cucumbers, roasted corn, black beans, grated cheddar and fried tortilla strips (add avocado slices if you like!)

TIP: Get some grains! Quinoa and other hearty grains make a great addition to your chicken salad bowl – just place the grains at the bottom, greens in the middle and chicken on top. You may want to add extra sauce. Yum!

What’s your favourite chicken dinner for summer? Tell us in the comments!